television programs in 15 categories from dramas to comedy shows even the top nonhumans like miss piggy and lassie. and tomorrow night from 9:00 to 11:00 we're going to take a nostalgic trip. with lots of laughs and a few tears. tomorrow a little taste from the best variety show category. it's one of television's most enduring legacies, the variety show. the tv sets may have been black and white. >> you know i can smile. >> reporter: the host a little flair, but it was the ed sullivan show that brought elvis and swinging hips to living rooms across the country. >> ladies and gentlemen the beatles. >> reporter: and the beatles ambassador to america. ♪ >> reporter: of course the '60s brought with them a cultural revolution also played out on television and soon a woman was hosting america's famous variety show. >> said variety is a man's game not for a woman to do. i said but that's all i know and that's all i want to do. >> reporter: and she did it. singing, dancing and stumbling her way into viewers' hearts. then there's the variety show that brought attitude to the weekends for decades. >> live